It's Mouse's birthday, and—one by one—his friends (cat, dog, cow, horse, farmer) squeeze into the tiny, well-appointed straw house where Mouse lives in a quiet corner of the barn. Miraculously, they all fit; but when Mouse blows out his single birthday candle, the house flies apart like the one-hoss shay, leaving Mouse and the others in his "new house"—the capacious hayloft, where there's room for everyone. Told in simple, repetitive verse, a funny story that'll be a good choice for very young groups. The humorous, large figures of Mouse's friends dominate Degen's brightly colored illustrations in amusing contrast to the appealing little Mouse. (Picture book. 2-6)
Pub Date: March 24, 1993
ISBN: 0-399-22189-1
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1993
A real cat-and-mouse chase that races along in quick-stepping action sentences: ``Whiskers twitch./Mouse runs./Cat chases.'' Mouse hops onto a leaf on a gusty day and rides it up and out of Cat's clutches. Landing on a river, Mouse escapes again and Cat misses a final swipe before ``Mouse sails./Cat wails.'' Sathre (J. B. Wigglebottom and the Parade of Pets, 1993, etc.) creates a lively miniadventure with a fanciful quality. Schumaker's first book for young readers harkens back to the simpler illustrative style of early children's books: the palette is limited to five clean, clear hues plus black. The look is refreshingly uncluttered. (Picture book. 2-5)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-15-200105-0
Page Count: 36
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1995
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A simple book—two books in one that end in the middle—with a salubrious message: ``Sometimes, you just feel happy'' and ``Sometimes, you just feel sad.'' In the first half of this book a troop of animals savors its happiness—a peacock parades while a tiger is tickled. In the other half, which must be flipped over to be read, a collection of beasts fares less well—a bear broods and a camel curls its lip. This companion to Wide Awake/So Sleepy (1994, not reviewed), with some inventive anthropomorpization, lets children know that it's okay to go with the flow. Paschkis's colorful portraits display a whimsical use of perspective and amiable animals who are expressive without being cute; the background patterns bloom in a robust palette. (Picture book. 2-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-8050-3862-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Henry Holt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 1995
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